1) What causes a stir in financial and economic circles? Mortgage foreclosures? Hedge funds? Ponzi schemes? Sometimes. But today it’s teenagers and Twitter. And the buzz is being caused by a 15-year-old intern for Morgan Stanley who wrote a research report on teenager media habits, according to the Guardian:

His report, that dismissed Twitter and described online advertising as pointless, proved to be “one of the clearest and most thought-provoking insights we have seen – so we published it”, said Edward Hill-Wood, executive director of Morgan Stanley’s European media team.

So what’s the more interesting story here? That Twitter isn’t for teens? That Morgan Stanley gets its research from 15-year-old interns? Or that a 15 year old writes better and more thought-provoking insights than the rest of the gargantuan company?

Now, the typical reaction of the marketing people will be to say “OK, the heck with Twitter, then. The kid says it’s pointless.” The kid, though, said he doesn’t know anyone who reads a newspaper, saying kids prefer to get their news from the Internet and TV. Wait, did someone say “Internet”? That’s where Twitter is, isn’t it? So maybe someone should say to the kid, “Twitter is a great place to get news. Maybe you and your pals should think about not being quite so proud about being so ignorant.”

2) – The American Wind Energy Association has released a report card on the Department of Energy proposal to generate 20-percent of U.S. electricity from wind by 2030. We’re going to need more creative ideas than slapping up windmills. So Popular Mechanics (still the best site for contraption geeks!) looks at 10 wind turbines that push the limits of design.

Example:

3) They’re building a Habitat for Humanity house out in Worthington (Daily Globe – reg. possibly required) , which is always a reminder that there still is plenty of it — humanity — out there.

“I’ve had guys just call me up and say, ‘If you need anybody to help, don’t be afraid to call,'” said (Dan) Wagner of other contractors in the area. “It’s a matter of the time (when the work needs to be done). That’s the important thing.”

Meanwhile, the 17th Ride to Rebuild is underway through southern Minnesota. The group rides to a location, raises some money, helps build homes, and rides on. First stop: Rushford. Thursday: Austin.

But, actually, none of these would explain why the suicide campaign went into remission. Or, at least, they would not explain why it went into remission if the original cause was despair. If despair is your feeling, then nothing can stop you from blowing yourself up against the wall as a last gesture against Israeli colonial architecture. If despair dominates your psyche, then targeted assassinations of others are not going to stop you from donning the shroud and the belt and aiming yourself at paradise, even if only at a roadblock. If despair is what has invaded your mind, why on earth would you care about this or that short-term truce?

Midday (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – During the hearing’s lunch recess, we’ll be joined by David Stras, associate professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School and Ann Althouse, law professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Talk of the Nation (1-3 p.m.) – Unlikely to air on the radio because of the hearings, but if it does the first hour of the show will consider whether members of the Bush administration should be investigated for war crimes. Hour two: Focus on Sotomayor.

All Things Considered (3-6:30 p.m.) – MPR’s Laura Yuen is tracking the missing Somalis story and she may have a report this evening. Dan Olson profiles Loaves and Fishes, the program that was supposed to be temporary when it started back in 1982. Twenty-seven years later, Loaves and Fishes has expanded from two dining sites to eight, one of the largest meal programs in Minnesota. Volunteers serve thousands of people each day. Demand is up. Two of the founders lament the growing need for the service.

NPR’s Elizabeth Shogren will have a story on how charities might be negatively affected by the Cash for Clunkers car program designed to get you to prop up the auto industry. The charities think people will stop donating their old cars to them.

About the blogger

Bob Collins has been with Minnesota Public Radio since 1992, emigrating to Minnesota from Massachusetts. He was senior editor of news in the ’90s, ran MPR’s political unit, created the MPR News regional website, invented the popular Select A Candidate, started several blogs, and every day laments that his Minnesota Fantasy Legislature project never caught on.

NewsCut is a blog featuring observations about the news. It provides a forum for an online discussion and debate about events that might not typically make the front page. NewsCut posts are not news stories.

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Thanks for the link to the moon launch pictures Bob! I never would have found those myself, and they were very interesting. I enjoy taking “the other side of the picture” as well.

Tyler

*eyeroll* This is the most boring Supreme Court nomination ever! I hope it gets spiced up with a good scandal or two.

mulad

Yeah, it’s been surprising to see how little commemoration there’s been of the moon landing. A quick search on my DVR last night seemed to show that Turner Classic Movies was going to do the most — simply airing a bunch of old movies about going to the moon (several pre-1969) and some documentaries there and on History.

Meanwhile, over in the U.K., the BBC has been putting actual money into commemorating the moon landings. I know about one show since it followed James May take a flight in a U2 to the edge of space as he recounted the Apollo story (he’s one of the hosts of the popular “Top Gear” show).

But, maybe things will turn around a little bit in the next week. NASA is planning to release some much cleaner video of the moon landing than what we’ve ever seen. I guess they’re still in the process of recovering it all, but some notable clips will be made available this Thursday.

Bob Collins

We’re having a conversation about how many people don’t believe the moon landing actually took place.

Kerri Miller just said her husband is one of the doubters — although she’s not sure if he’s just pulling her leg.

Seems to me that question is one that should be on the list of first-date questions.